2016 Reininger Syrah XM

Happy Sunday!  It's been another weekend of non-spring weather, with rain an highs in the 40s, and it looks like the next four days will be between 30 and 45, so I guess the "Summer of George" will have to wait a few weeks.  I just finished a virtual tasting with the fine folks from Reininger, focusing on their white and rose wines, and since I didn't have any of those on hand, I decided to open a bottle of their red wine for dinner.  The 2016 Reininger Syrah XM is another interesting wine from Chuck Reininger, one of the most creative winemakers I know.  This wine is an "XM" which stands for extended maturation, so he reserves some of his wine (in this case the 2016 Walla Walla Syrah) and let's it age in barrel for a few extra years and releases it under the XM moniker.  This wine is a 100% Syrah from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this new, old wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass that has the look of a hearty Cabernet as opposed to a Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas that bring you right back to the barrel room, with leather, toasted oak, blackberry and cassis dancing in your mind.  Take a sip and you're greeted with one of the most velvety smooth Syrahs you can imagine, a rush of blackberry, cherry and currant envelop your palate with a thick almost syrupy mouthfeel that just makes your mind explode.  The fruit is encased in earthy elements, oak, peat and basalt that evolve to some twang midpalate.  The tannins are almost perfectly integrated, providing for that velvety smoothness to extend to the long, dry finish that will have you begging for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it has to be one of the most perfect examples of Syrah I've ever tasted.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and lamb, to heaty pastas or stews.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a Sunday barbecue dinner (oh how I long for summer!), of barbecued beef baby back ribs, grilled corn on the cob, mustard baked beans and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2021 DaMa GSM

Happy Saturday!  It was a wild day of yard work, as I mowed for the first time this year, but had to pause for a while to let a thunderstorm pass, but I finally finished, then changed the oil and tuned up the lawn mower, so I feel accomplished!  And now, for a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2021 GSM.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (56%), Syrah (29%) and Mourvèdre(15%) from the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, it really is gem-like in the light, with a bit of fuchsia along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, tart cherry and bits of earthy sandalwood and peat.  Take a sip and you're awash with rich, sweet fruit, blueberry, marionberry and cherry that dance around until you ease into some hints of cardamom and earthy notes.  The tannins are somewhat subdued but they still manage to hold everything together for a wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an adventurous wine that will have your palate going in multiple directions.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pastas and risotto, to Sunday roast beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of a Pacific Northwest pairing of crispy skin salmon with a lemon dill cream sauce, along with some roasted sweet potatoes with red onion and jalapeno, and some steamed rainbow cauliflower.  Cheers!

2020 Bledsoe Family Winery Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It was another cold and rainy day here in the Midwest, sometimes I forget how we apparently skip spring and go right from winter to summer.  In any case, this is a good time to open up a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with my Sunday dinner, and this time it's a selection from a recent wine club shipment from the Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2020 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (7%) and Petit Verdot (6%) from six different vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of lavender, blackberry and currant with just some hints of minerality.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe dark fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that transition easily to some earthy notes of graphite and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a luxuriously long dry finish that lingers effortlessly for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is the best vintage yet from the Bledsoe Family Winery (even better than the Flying B wines of 2015, 2016 and 2017 or the Bledsoe Family Vintages of 2018 or 2019!).  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from grilled steaks and chops, to Yankee pot roast and Sunday lasagna!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared ribeye basted with butter and rosemary, along with some asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Our crazy weather has continued this week, going from snow and the 30s to the 80s and back to rain and the upper 30s this weekend.  Needless to say, I did  not get all of the yard work done that I'd hoped this weekend, but at least there is good food and wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2021 "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), Merlot (10%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Malbec (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from some of the premier vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this big wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with the look of a big bold Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of  blackberry, cherry, leather and oak, a bit more subdued that some of the current range of big Cabs.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit with a range from blackberry and cherry to currant and plum, that transition easily to some notes of vanilla bean and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth providing for a long, lush finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a solid Cabernet that is very approachable in its youth.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from hard cheeses and charcuterie to grilled steaks and chops.  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip that I picked up at my local market, topped with Béarnaise along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers! 

2014 Cardoza Family Winery Knollwood Vineyard 'Right Bank'

Happy Sunday!  Last week was an early taste of summer, with highs in the 80s and lots of sun, but today the temperature has been dropping steadily and they are now predicting snow tomorrow!  Well, I can't control the weather, but I can control what's in my wine glass, and tonight I've opened up a bottle from a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2014 Cardoza Family Winery Knollwood Vineyard 'Right Bank' Napa Valley Red Blend is a classic Bordeaux style blend from the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc (59%), Merlot (36%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with hints of amber around the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, toasted oak, cardamom, lavender and ripe black fruit that dares you to take a single sip!  Once you take that sip you're greeted with wonderful ripe black fruit with a hint of sweetness, blackberry, currant and plum that transition to some tawny, earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that is truly reminiscent of the right bank of the Gironde
.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's just hitting its prime as a lovely food-friendly blend.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and chops, to barbecue and Mexican dishes, to a wonderful Italian pastas.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a veal rib chop seasoned with herbs de Provence along with some grilled asparagus and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2020 Bledsoe Family Winery Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Easter!  I have gone back and forth on Easter dinner, between ham and lamb, and tonight I've settled on the latter, so what wine to pick?  Thankfully, I've recently received a wine club shipment from Bledsoe Family Winery that I think might be perfect with lamb, the 2020 Bledsoe Family Winery Walla Walla Cabernet Franc.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, with hints of fuchsia along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of candied cherry amid hints of anise and smoke.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a masculine rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that ease into some notes of mint and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured providing for velvety dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's really a remarkable single Bordeaux varietal offering that strikes me as very food friendly.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops, to mushroom risotto, to Yankee pot roast.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with by new classic Easter dinner of herb crusted rack of lamb with herb mashed potatoes and red wine reduction, along with some oven roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2008 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Well, it's April Fool's Day, but it's also the first Saturday of the new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  The magical day where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from the library at DaMa, the 2008 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass and a gentle swirl reveals aromas of prune, blackberry and oak with just a hint of mint underneath.  The first sip reveals a rush of tart cherry and black current that eases its way to some notes of tarragon and mint midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but ease back for a wonderfully smooth finish that's both earthy and dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as despite its 15 years it still has a good bit of life left in it.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from wild mushroom risotto, to linguine carbonara, smoked brisket to hearty winter beef stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic bone-in ribeye with some steamed asparagus and hollandaise.  Cheers!